Gastoete de catelait cateliaeti



G. DE CATELANCATELLANI.

ARTIFICIAL HMB;

APPLlcAmN man APR. 16. 191s.

Patnted June 3, 1919.

momes?,

A Try,

i GASTONE DE GATELAN CATELLANI, OF ROME, ITALY..

' ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 3, 1919;

Application filed April 16, 1918. Serial No. 228,832.

To 0M whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, GAs'roNn nn CA'IELAN CATELLANI, manufacturer, a subject ot the King of Italy, and residing at Rome, Italy, (whose post-otlice address is Via del Quirinale N 0.21,) have invented certain new and useful improvements in or Relating to Artificial Limbs, otwhich the following is a specilication.

The present invention relates to improve ments in artificial legs, and particularly to that class-*in which the movement of the lower portion of the leg is obtained by the shoulders of the wearer through the medium of straps or' suspenders. Y

I will describe one form of artificial leg embodying my invention, and a number of modifications, and will point outrthe novel features thereof in claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View showing in vertical section' one form of artificial leg embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line a-a of Fig. 1. l

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views showing modified forms of my invention.

Fig. 5`is a vertical sectional view showing Y a further modified form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing in front elevation one form of device for connecting the foot and ankle of the artificial leg, and Fig. 7 is a sideV view of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, 1 designates a bar of metal of a shape adapted to suit the curve of the calf of the leg, and is secured to the leg section by means oi the screws 2. The bar 1 is preferably bent. at its extremities in the same direction, and is pivoted to rods 3 and 4 mounted on the thigh and leg sections, respectively. The rod 3 is virtually the pivot point about which the leg section moves with relation to the thigh section. The lower end of therbar is bifurcated to provide arms 5 and 6 which are bored to receive the rod 4. Arranged between the arms 5 and6, and mounted upon the rod 4 is a sleeve 7, as shown in Fig. 2. 8 and 9 designate the ends of a belt or strap. which has its intermediate portion trained around the sleeve ywhile the ends thereof are suitably secured to the Suspenders of the opera? tor, as willV bcrfunderstood. The strap'is guided ,during movement by pulleys 10 and 11,:which are arranged within suitable openings formed'in the'thigh section.

12 designates a transversely disposed rod which is arranged toY limit the rearward movement of vthe ,leg section with respect to the thigh section, whereby the leg section is prevented' from assuming a too advanced position with Yrelation to the vertical aXis of the leg. 13 and 14 designate two metallic bands, which, as shownin Fig. 2, are arranged upon opposite sides of the leg section, and are suitably bored'to receive the ends oi the rods 3, 4, and 12.

The bar 1 may be of any suitable shape, such as shown in Fig; 3, wherein the arms 5 anderfollow the internal contounof the hollow calf of the leg, while the extremities are Vbent atl suitable angles Vtosupport Ta Apintle which carries the roller or sleeve 7.

Another manner of forming the bar 1 is shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5, the lower end of the bar 1 terminates adjacent the screws 2, so that it is unnecessary to use the rod 4. The roller 7 is in this instance supported at the forward part ot' the leg section in the manner shown.

Referring again to Fig. 1, 15 designates a spring which performs the function of the rear tendon of the foot in a manner which is well understood in the art. 16 designates a block of rubber which is arranged between the ankle and foot portion of the artificial leg so that it performs the functions of the front tendon of the foot.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 6, and '7, 17 designates a rectilinear joint which forms the center of articulation between 'the foot section andleg section. The joint 17 comprises a hollow cylinder 18, one extremity of which isA closed, while the other extremity is internallythreaded to receive a screw plug 19. Arranged within the cylinder 18 is a tube 2O which is confined within the cylinder by means of the plug 19, as will be understood. The tube 20 is designed to contain a lubricant and is provided with an opening 21 to permit the lubricant to pass into a groove 22a formed on the inner face of a ring 22. The ring 22 `surrounds the cylinder 18, and is free to Vrotate thereon. The. ring` 22 is formed with a dependent eX- tension 23, havingE theflower end thereof threaded 'c' receive a knot 2G".` 24 and 25 oFnIc.

designate bolts, the lower ends vof which have a threaded engagement with the Joint 17. while the upperends are also threaded tol receive the nuts 27.

As shown in Fig. l, the leg section and foot section are provided with suitable openings to receive the joint 17, the rods tand 25, and the extension 23, the nuts '26 and 27 being arranged, as shown, to secure the joint in proper position and to prevent displace ment of the same. It will be seen from this construction that the foot section swings about the joint as a center, and. is normally biased to the position shown in Fig, 1 by means of the spring l5.

It will be readily understood that the artificial leg is manipulated by the movements of the shoulders of a person Wearing the limb, an actual pull being exercised upon the leg section of the limb through the medium of the `strap or belt. Y

Although l have herein shown and described only four forms of artificial limb embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y l. An artificial limb comprising a leg section, a rod Ymounted on the leg` section, a thigh section pivotcd to said rod, a bar fixed to the leg section and having the upper end thereof pivoted to the rod, a sleeve looselv iitted on the lower end of said bar, and a iiexible member trained about such sleeve for actuating the leg section.

An artificial limb comprising a leg section, a rod mounted on the leg section, a thigh section pivoted to said rod, a bar fixed to the leg section and having the upper end thereof pivoted to the rod, a rotatable member Within the leg` section, a iieXible inem` ber trainedabout Said member for actuating` thepleg section, and a rod Xed in the thigh section yand engageable with said bar for limiting the movement of the leg` section in one direction.

In testimony whereof l haveV hereunto signed my name in the presence Vof two Witnesses.

YGASTONE DE CATELAN GATELLA'NI.

Witnesses:

Giovanni BoRToLUzzr, LUIGI DrNTr.

Copies of thispatent may-be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

